The Vanishing City: The Documentary

Global trends in major cities around the world have changed rapidly in the
last several decades. As cities become more interconnected, and less
dependent on localized economic models, domestic issues of increased class
inequality and sustainability have emerged as central components to city
planning debates. These trends are perhaps best exemplified in the city of
New York.

Told through the eyes of tenants, city planners, business owners, scholars, and politicians, The Vanishing City exposes the real politic behind the alarming disappearance of New York’s beloved neighborhoods, the truth about its finance-dominated economy, and the myth of “inevitable change.” Artfully documented through interviews, hearings, demonstrations, and archival footage, the film takes a sober look at the city’s “luxury” policies and high-end development, the power role of the elite, and accusations of corruption surrounding land use and rezoning. The film also links New York trends to other global cities where multinational corporations continue to victimize the middle and working classes.
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Currently, the city's frenetic luxury building pace has slowed due to the recession. Our film presents information to help people understand how it happened—in order to better think about what can be done before the building craze picks up again. There are communities that have been fighting back successfully. Below are some of the triumphs...

The Bloomberg administration backs eminent domain of Willets Point, taking land from hundreds of small and medium sized businesses with more than 15 thousands jobs at stake and giving it to wealthy developers to build a convention center.
Source: http://www.willetspoint.org/

Much of the new development either is partially occupied, sits empty, is partially developed or abandoned.

3 billion in tax breaks doled out to corporations and upscale housing, while working class New Yorkers pay more than half their income in rent.

Small businesses and middle income New Yorkers are being priced out of the city at an unprecedented rate.

"Literally New York is losing African Americans. In the last five years there has been an exodus of 40,000 African Americans."
—Darren Walker, Vice President, The Rockefeller Foundation
During the Municipal Art Society event "Is New York Losing its Soul?"

Columbia University plans to seek eminent domain in order to expand their campus, which would displace 5,000 people and would include bulldozing the historic Cotton Club.